West Jakarta Authorities Sterilize Hundreds of Male Cats to Curb Feline Boom

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - The West Jakarta Food Security, Marine, and Agricultural Sub-agency (Sudin KPKP Jakbar) has launched a large-scale reproductive control campaign, targeting hundreds of domestic male cats to curb stray overpopulation and defend the capital’s rabies-free status.

In a joint operation conducted on Thursday, June 18, 2026, municipal veterinary officers teamed up with the Animal Police Unit (Polsatwa) of the National Police’s Security Maintenance (Kabaharkam) division to sterilize 200 local tomcats across the Grogol Petamburan district.

The initiative combines veterinary medicine with community policing to systematically lower animal abandonment rates, reduce territorial fighting, and eliminate the public health hazards associated with uncontrolled stray populations in dense urban neighborhoods.

Head of the Livestock and Animal Health Section at the West Jakarta KPKP Sub-agency, Tanti, explained that the veterinary teams utilized specialized micro-incision castration procedures to prioritize animal welfare and minimize recovery times.

"After being sterilized, the cats were given eartip tags," said Tanti when confirmed in Jakarta, Thursday, as quoted by Antara.

Beyond managing owned domestic pets, the tactical campaign directly integrated a Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) framework to humanely manage feral colonies nesting inside commercial hubs. Partnering with dedicated animal welfare organizations, including the Komunitas Pecinta Kucing Sehati or Sehati Cat Lover Community and local cat lover networks, teams set up humane traps across the crowded Kopro Market.

"We are also assisted by the cat lover team and the KPKS (National Animal Health Commission) in capturing stray cats at Kopro Market using the Trap, Neuter, and Return (TNR) method. They are captured, sterilized, and then released back into their natural habitat. More than 27 stray cats have been sterilized," he said.

To encourage maximum public participation and remove financial barriers for low-income pet owners, the sub-agency packaged the castration drive alongside broader veterinary health services. The pop-up clinic provided free animal health consultations and administered essential vaccinations against Rabies-Transmitting Animals (HPR).

"The entire series of activities are held free of charge," said Tanti.

The Grogol Petamburan operation serves as a precursor to a sweeping, municipality-wide animal health campaign. Throughout 2026, the West Jakarta administration aims to sterilize a total of 2,200 local male cats distributed across all eight subdistricts (kecamatan) in West Jakarta. ***